The moment they touched, the Nine-headed Bird's feathers bristled all over its body. But when its beak pressed against her palm, it suddenly let out a whimper like a young cub.
The lowest head brushed against her wrist, revealing an old wound hidden beneath its feathers—a scar from a lightning strike a hundred years ago, when it was injured protecting her as it fell toward a volcano.
"Ah Hen…"
Wen Qian's fingertips brushed over the silver chain, and its links suddenly glowed with blue light. "I won't lock you up here again."
The remaining half of the chain gradually dissolved, vanishing into the air.
Nine pairs of eyes blinked simultaneously. Wen Qian saw her own reflection in each pair of pupils and couldn't help but smile.
"They should be waking up now." Her finger tapped lightly on the nearest head. The Nine-headed Bird awkwardly shrank its neck back, then boldly nuzzled its head against her palm again.
